Amidst the woods of a place near the Kyrios Empire's capital city, a shadow can be seen leaping from tree to tree, like some agile primate that has complete mastery not only over the terrain of the place, but also over their own body as they showcase such precise, swift, and silent movement.
Sometimes, this very same shadow will fall down the ground, although not by accident but rather intentionally, weaving across the trees with such agility that one might mistake it for an agile beast wanting to hunt some small prey, the movement appearing erratic and odd despite making one feel like the movement is completely controlled.
What one might find all too odd if they were to observe the movements of this shadow is the fact that they leave no trace at all, each step at the ground below not even kicking up a fuss, no footstep, no trampled grass, no scattered leaves, and above, every time they leap from tree to tree, no branches were shaken, nor were there any sound that will point them moving within the trees.
It doesn't help making things less peculiar when the fact that both normal animals and powerful beasts run away from the shadow every time they enter within its vicinity, almost as if it is a threat that a living being, no matter how powerful they are, must avoid at any cost.
If there are witnesses, the guesses might be normal animals, beasts, or even something completely different, a mystical creature of sorts that hides within those words, but extremely rarely, if any at all, will assume that such movement comes from a fellow human, which, for this one, is exactly the case.
"Hmm? Already here, huh…"
Leaping across trees once again, Argus finds the sunlight peeking through his path increasingly getting brighter as he moves forward, causing him to smile as he speaks, as despite aging millennia during his time as a cultivator, he still couldn't help but feel a bit excited inside thinking that with this return to the past, he will be able to mend the greatest regret he had in the past.
"Come on, come on, freshly harvested Crimson Coral Trout!! Just a couple of silvers!!"
"Hey! What the hell is this!? These weapons feel like a scam!!"
"Sir! I can guarantee you that these goods right here are not a scam!! You just might be unaware of how these things are used!"
"Hahaha!! Some good Golden Ginseng for such an affordable price! What a deal!!"
"Hey, handsome! Want to experience some good times with this big sister here?? You don't have to worry about anything, you can leave it to me~~."
It isn't even within the towering walls the stand tall and serve as the primary defense of the great capital, but one can already hear the liveliness of the surroundings, the paved, smooth and wide road accommodating the passing strangers, whether walking on foot or riding a carriage, going inside or moving outside the capital, and at the side of said road, the assortment of stalls trying to make their daily living.
This appears to be a common thing happening as the guards standing around the great gate of the place only watch as if the stalls are an everyday occurrence to them, their focus more on the people entering the center of the Kyrios Empire, showing their dedication to protecting the peace of this place, even if it is only in the smallest way they can.
Making his way towards the line, Argus then finds himself quite amused as during the month or so since he had returned from the future, it is only now that he encountered this amount of people all around, the lively atmosphere making him relax quite a bit, feeling that things are going incomparably well especially when compared to the last time this huge amount of people is gathered near him.
'Hahaha, no use in dwelling on that past.'
He reminded himself as he felt a wry smile appear on his face, as his mind traveled down what can be considered just a fresh memory to him, that battle that cost him everything, yet allowed him a chance to gain everything he wanted as well.
"Halt, identifications, please."
Thoughts about the future and cementing his plans occupying his mind, Argus was snapped out of his daze as he finally arrived right in front of the capital's gates, the two armored guards staring at him not with the usual wariness he always feels when he was travelling the martial world, but rather one with a considerable acceptance and warmth, despite the undeniably distant tone occupying near entirety of their voices.
Reaching his hand towards the interior pocket of his clothes, he grasped something in the shape of a disc, pulling it out of the pocket and revealing it just enough for both guards to see what he was holding, making their eyes go wide as they took some moment to regain their composure.
"T-thats—"
It took them a good few moments, but the moment they managed to identify that crest, the life-like, vivid sword plunged into the ever-burning flame, the two of them immediately concluded the identity of the young man, their eyes immediately trained on him, and committed his appearance, possibly his first public one, to their mind.
As for the doubts, the possibility of this person using some sort of fake crest in order to enter the capital, there's only one thought in both these guards' minds, and that is the thought that anyone who is trying to enter using such method won't dare to fake that crest, one that is owned by no more than three individuals within the empire.
"Shhh"
Seeing the looks on their face, Argus immediately signs his index finger on his lips with a little smile on his face, the hushing sound coming out of him causing the two to try their best to act normally, looking at each other with quite some trouble in their eyes.
"There's no need for formality, I am the one who insisted to the old man that I would come to the capital by myself."
Argus said in a calm, hushed tone just enough for him to be heard by the two in front of him, the two of them, who initially planned on at least leaving an escort to guide the young man to the entry of the capital at the very least, no longer insisted on the thoughts as they felt like the young man is determined to move all in his lonesome.
"Then, we hope you have a great time in the capital."
Despite knowing the status of the young man, they merely performed the usual greetings they gave, all in an effort not to draw too much attention as the young man in front of them would have liked.
"Thanks, I'll be going first."
Seeing their demeanor, Argus couldn't help but smile in praise, admiring their professional quality before he proceeds to walk on his own again, his eyes, fixed on the light at the end of the tunnel within great wall protecting the capital, finally adjusting moments later as he stepped back into the light, the sight greeting him something that feels all too familiar, yet also all too fresh at the same time.